The financial situation at many post-secondary institutions mirrors the economic woes of the country. Enrollment is up at many colleges and universities, but revenue has fallen considerably. A number of institutions have been forced to raise tuition and cut jobs and programs to close budget gaps.

Several schools that previously had a 'no loan' policy, including Dartmouth College and Williams College, recently announced plans to reintroduce loans into their financial aid packages. However, there are some schools that are holding firm and maintaining their commitment to limit student debt despite the shaky economy.

The Project on Student Debt, a nonprofit independent research and policy organization that raises awareness about student debt and college affordability, recently identified and surveyed more than 50 schools that have limited or eliminated student loans in their financial aid packages. All of the institutions surveyed say that they have no plans to change their policies for at least two academic years.

Of the 50+ institutions on the Project's list, 44 are private schools and 17 are public schools. These schools account for 8% of all four-year college students in the United States.

Harvard University has eliminated loans for students of all income levels.

Colleges and Universities That Will Eliminate or Limit Loans

Although the following schools require some student contribution of earnings from academic year work such as a federal work-study job or summer work, all of them have pledged to eliminate or limit loans from their financial aid packages for needy students, and in some cases, middle- and upper-income students as well.

To learn more about how much you might be expected to pay to attend the colleges and universities on the above list, see the interactive chart created by the Project on Student Debt. The chart shows how much students and their parents are required to contribute based on income level.